Wrestling: Five bring back hardware for Leavenworth

An abbreviated squad competed for the Leavenworth wrestling team Saturday at Silver Lake; Pleasant Ridge closes out dual season.

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By Times Report

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By Times Report

Posted Feb. 4, 2013 at 10:37 PM

By Times Report

Posted Feb. 4, 2013 at 10:37 PM

An abbreviated squad competed for the Leavenworth wrestling team Saturday.

Participating in the Silver Lake Invitational, only eight Pioneers took part in the 18-team competition.

But of those that did, five Leavenworth grapplers walked away with medals. Those accomplishments enabled the squad to finish seventh overall.

“We still had some kids out sick or with injuries, but the ones that did wrestle did very well,” Pioneer coach Jay Johnston said. “At one point, we were in fourth with just eight wrestlers so the guys continued to compete well even short-handed.”

The top LV performers were mainstays — Jesse Colver at 220 and Nathan Butler at 285. Both went undefeated to earn first in their weight class.

Next was Tilden Edwards, who rebounded from a loss midway through to claim third at 160.

“Technically speaking, Tilden Edwards had the best tournament of his career,” Johnston said. “He made two poor decisions and paid for them in his loss, but the rest of the time he was so clean and is really peaking at the perfect time.”

Danny Wilson captured fourth in the 113-pound class while Danial Wilson was sixth at 132.

Leavenworth will compete at Gardner-Edgerton Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Rams wrap up dual season

For an exclamation mark on its dual season, the Pleasant Ridge wrestling team participated in the Onaga Dual Tournament Friday.

At the end of the competition, the Rams finished 3-2, which caps off the team’s final dual record at 15-5.

“I think overall, we continued to wrestle and improve,” Ridge coach Darren Weber said. “At the same time, I feel like we have left some opportunities out on the mat. We still have plenty of time to achieve those and I know these kids will try as hard as they can to do that.”

As a team, the Rams beat Burlington, Horton/Hiawatha and Marion while losing to Rock Creek and Onaga.